Editing Boston Celtics (section)

===={{anchor|The new big three}} 2007–2012: Pierce, Allen, and Garnett "Big Three" era====
In the summer of 2007, general manager [[Danny Ainge]] made a series of moves that returned the Celtics to prominence. On draft night, he traded No. 5 pick [[Jeff Green (basketball)|Jeff Green]], [[Wally Szczerbiak]] and [[Delonte West]] to Seattle for perennial All-Star [[Ray Allen]] and Seattle's second-round pick, which the team used to select LSU's [[Glen Davis (basketball)|Glen "Big Baby" Davis]].<ref>[http://www.nba.com/celtics/draft/press062807-ray-allen-trade.html Celtics Acquire Seven-Time All-Star Ray Allen from Sonics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606003414/http://www.nba.com/celtics/draft/press062807-ray-allen-trade.html |date=June 6, 2012 }}, nba.com. Retrieved July 12, 2007.</ref> The Celtics then traded [[Ryan Gomes]], [[Gerald Green]], Al Jefferson, [[Theo Ratliff]], [[Sebastian Telfair]], and a first-round draft pick to the Timberwolves in exchange for superstar power forward [[Kevin Garnett]].<ref>[http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/press073107-garnett.html Celtics Acquire 10-Time All-Star Kevin Garnett] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510050157/http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/press073107-garnett.html |date=May 10, 2012 }}, nba.com. Retrieved July 31, 2007.</ref> These moves created a new "Big Three" of Pierce, Allen, and Garnett.

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|footer = [[Kevin Garnett]] and [[Ray Allen]] were key players in the Celtics' 2008 NBA title victory
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In the 2007–08 season, Celtics completed the largest single-season turnaround in [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] history. The team went 66–16 in the regular season, a 42-game improvement over its 2006–07 record. However, the team struggled in the early rounds of the playoffs, needing seven games to defeat the Atlanta Hawks in the first round and another seven to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference semifinals. The Celtics then beat the Detroit Pistons in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals, winning two road games.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=280530008|title=Pierce shoots Celtics to first Finals appearance since '87|work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=May 30, 2008|access-date=May 30, 2008|archive-date=May 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516044149/http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280530008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

For the 11th time in league history, and for the first time since 1987, the Celtics and the Lakers faced off in the NBA Finals. The Celtics won Game One at home 98–88, fueled by strong play by Garnett and Pierce's dramatic comeback from a second-half knee injury. They won Game Two 108–102 despite nearly blowing a 24-point lead in the fourth quarter. As the series shifted to Los Angeles, the Lakers stifled Pierce and Garnett in Game Three and won 87–81. However, the Celtics would overcome a 24-point deficit in Game 4 to win 97–91, making the largest in-game comeback in NBA Finals history. After again blowing a large lead, the Lakers hung on to win Game 5 103–98, sending the series back to Boston. In Game 6, the Celtics overpowered the Lakers, winning 131–92 and clinching their 17th NBA title. [[Paul Pierce]] was named Finals MVP.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=280617002|title=Celtics smash Lakers, bring home 17th NBA championship|publisher=ESPN|agency=Associated Press|date=June 17, 2008|access-date=June 17, 2008|archive-date=June 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621155803/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280617002|url-status=dead}}</ref> With the win the Celtics set a record for most games a team had ever played in a postseason with 26.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/sports/basketball/17nba.html?pagewanted=print|title=Celtics Remain Mindful Of a Missed Opportunity|date=June 17, 2008|first=Howard|last=Beck|newspaper=The New York Times|page=D2|access-date=July 27, 2018|archive-date=June 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623062841/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/sports/basketball/17nba.html?pagewanted=print|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2008–09 Celtics started off the season at 27–2, the then-best starting record in NBA history.<ref>[https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gKyAf4srenZECaWOsfizcspJ2x3Q NBA Celtics win 19th straight to set franchise record] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521033201/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gKyAf4srenZECaWOsfizcspJ2x3Q |date=May 21, 2013 }}, news.google.com December 23, 2008. Retrieved December 24, 2008.</ref> They also had a franchise-record 19-game streak.<ref>[http://sports.outsidethebeltway.com/2008/12/lakers-snap-celtics-19-game-winning-streak/ Lakers snap Celtics 19 game winning streak] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715023015/http://sports.outsidethebeltway.com/2008/12/lakers-snap-celtics-19-game-winning-streak/ |date=July 15, 2011 }}, outsidethebeltway.com December 25, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2008.</ref> After the All-Star Break, [[Kevin Garnett]] was injured in a loss against the [[Utah Jazz]] and missed the last 25 games of the season. Garnett was eventually shelved for the playoffs. The 2009 Celtics still finished with 62 victories, but their playoff run would end against the Magic in the second round.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/f/print/sports/more_sports/ewing_prophetic_as_magic_beat_celtics_sBpcbCKFHHZ5hLwVFnnQ2H|title=EWING PROPHETIC AS MAGIC BEAT CELTICS IN GAME 7|first=Marc|last=Berman|date=May 18, 2009|work=New York Post|access-date=September 17, 2009|archive-date=June 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606120312/http://www.nypost.com/f/print/sports/more_sports/ewing_prophetic_as_magic_beat_celtics_sBpcbCKFHHZ5hLwVFnnQ2H|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2009, with the return of Garnett from injury and the additions of [[Rasheed Wallace]] and [[Marquis Daniels]], the Celtics started the season 23–5 and at one point had the best record in the NBA. However, Doc Rivers decided to lessen his aging stars' minutes to keep them fresh for the playoffs. As a result, the Celtics sputtered to an even 27–27 record the rest of the way and finished the 2009–10 regular season with a 50–32 record.<ref>Lowe, Zach [http://celticshub.com/2010/03/03/home-court-records-and-champions/ Home Court Records and Champions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426011344/http://celticshub.com/2010/03/03/home-court-records-and-champions/ |date=April 26, 2012 }}, celticshub.com March 3, 2010. Retrieved March 14, 2010.</ref> Despite being the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics managed to make the [[NBA Finals]]. Rajon Rondo emerged as a star during postseason play.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2010-05-28-celtics-magic-game-5_N.htm|title=Celtics finally finish off Magic in Game 6 to head back to Finals|date=May 28, 2010|work=USA Today|access-date=May 29, 2010|first=Jeff|last=Zillgitt|archive-date=June 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628183833/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2010-05-28-celtics-magic-game-5_N.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> For the 12th time, the Celtics faced the Lakers in the Finals. After taking a 3–2 lead heading into Los Angeles for Game Six, the Celtics appeared poised to win their 18th title. However, starting center [[Kendrick Perkins]] suffered a severe knee injury early in Game Six,<ref>{{cite news|last=Beacham|first=Greg|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2010061713&print=1|title=Lakers edge Celtics in Game 7, win 16th title|agency=Associated Press|date=June 18, 2010|access-date=June 18, 2010|work=Yahoo! Sports|archive-date=June 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623064002/http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2010061713&print=1|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Celtics went on to lose the series in seven games.

During the 2010 off-season, with Perkins expected to be out until February 2011, the Celtics signed two former All-Star centers, [[Shaquille O'Neal]] and [[Jermaine O'Neal]]. Shaquille O'Neal's presence wound up leading to Perkins' departure: the Celtics were 33–10 in games Perkins had missed during the year due to injury<ref name="may">{{cite news|last=May |first=Peter |title=Celtics Creak Toward Postseason, Hoping They Have Legs for a Run |date=April 11, 2011 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |page=D7 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/sports/basketball/11celtics.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606094416/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/sports/basketball/11celtics.html?_r=1 |archive-date=June 6, 2022 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and had a 19–3 record in games when O'Neal played over 20&nbsp;minutes.<ref>{{cite news|last=Payne |first=Greg |title=Doc Rivers: Timing of trade was off |date=May 16, 2011 |work=ESPNBoston.com |url=https://www.espn.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=6555870 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518152756/http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=6555870 |archive-date=May 18, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Consequently, Perkins was traded to the [[Oklahoma City Thunder]] in February, when the Celtics were 41–14 and led the Eastern Conference despite another rash of injuries. Following the trade, however, they proceeded to win only 15 of their final 27 games. They finished with a 56–26 record, sliding to the third seed.<ref name=may/><ref>{{cite news |title=Amare Stoudemire back as Celts' reserves top Knicks' second string |date=April 13, 2011 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=310413002 |access-date=April 14, 2011 |quote=Shaquille O'Neal, who has played 5&nbsp;minutes, 29&nbsp;seconds since February 1, also sat out. |archive-date=April 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110417152245/http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=310413002 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The 2010–11 season still provided three landmarks: The Celtics became the second team to reach 3,000 victories, Paul Pierce became the third Celtic to score 20,000 points (the others are Larry Bird and John Havlicek), and Ray Allen broke the NBA record for most career three-pointers. The [[2011 NBA playoffs]] started with the Celtics sweeping the New York Knicks 4–0 in the opening round. In the second round, they were ousted by eventual Eastern Conference champions Miami Heat in five games. Shaquille O'Neal, limited to 12&nbsp;minutes in two games of the second round, retired at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chris |title=Report card: Shaquille O'Neal |date=May 18, 2011 |work=ESPNBoston.com |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4684171/report-card-shaquille-oneal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520011654/http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4684171/report-card-shaquille-oneal |archive-date=May 20, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Celtics started the [[2011 NBA lockout|lockout-shortened]] season 0–3, as Pierce was out with a heel injury. At the All-Star break, the Celtics were below .500 with a 15–17 record. However, they were one of the hottest teams in the league after the break, going 24–10 the rest of the year and winning their fifth division title in a row. The Celtics made the playoffs as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, the Celtics faced the [[Atlanta Hawks]] in the first round, beating them in six games led by strong play from Pierce and Garnett. In the conference semifinals, the Celtics defeated the 76ers in seven games. The Celtics faced the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, losing in seven games to the eventual NBA champions.

The 2012 off-season started with the Celtics having only six players under contract. While Kevin Garnett was signed to a new contract, Ray Allen signed with the Miami Heat for less money than the Celtics offered; this move brought the five-year "Big Three" era to a somewhat acrimonious end. The Celtics finished the season with 41 wins.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nba.si.com/2013/04/15/boston-marathon-bombing-terror-attack-celtics-pacers-game-cancelled-nba |title=NBA cancels game between Celtics and Pacers after Boston Marathon blasts |author=Ben Golliver |work=SI.com |access-date=June 30, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222005012/http://nba.si.com/2013/04/15/boston-marathon-bombing-terror-attack-celtics-pacers-game-cancelled-nba/ |archive-date=February 22, 2014 }}</ref> The Celtics trailed the New York Knicks 3–0 in the first round of the [[2013 NBA playoffs]] before losing the series in six games. In Game Six, the Celtics nearly completed a comeback when they went on a 20–0 run to cut the lead to four.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400459963|title=Knicks vs. Celtics – Game Recap – May 3, 2013 – ESPN|website=ESPN.com|access-date=October 18, 2017|archive-date=January 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102003828/http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400459963|url-status=live}}</ref>